A Hassig Family Chiropractic Perspective
If you’ve had neck pain for any length of time, you probably already know how much it can affect your life.
It may start as stiffness when you wake up. Then you notice it while working at your computer. Maybe backing out of the driveway becomes uncomfortable because turning your head is harder than it used to be. For other people, the discomfort spreads into the shoulders or contributes to recurring tension and headaches.
And one of the most common things people tell themselves is:
“Maybe it will go away.”
Sometimes it does. But if the pain keeps returning, gets progressively worse, or starts interfering with work, sleep, exercise, driving, or time with your family, I think we need to ask a better question:
Why does this keep happening?
I’m Dr. Brad Hassig. My wife, Dr. Lori Hassig, and I have been caring for families in the Birmingham and Mountain Brook community for more than 25 years.
One of the biggest things we’ve learned during that time is that neck pain is often the symptom that gets someone’s attention—but the symptom doesn’t always tell us the whole story.
A patient will often tell me, “I think I just slept wrong,” but then they realize they’ve been turning their whole body like a robot to check traffic for six months. That stiff movement is not only uncomfortable but also dangerous!
The neck—or cervical spine—is made up of seven vertebrae, along with discs, joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and the spinal cord. It has to provide stability while also allowing a tremendous amount of movement.
Then modern life asks it to tolerate hours of phones, laptops, driving, sports, exercise, stress, repetitive work and old injuries.
That is one reason neck pain can have so many different causes.
And it’s why we don’t believe every patient with neck pain should automatically receive the same treatment.
At Hassig Family Chiropractic, our approach begins with:
Listen. Evaluate. Measure. Then treat specifically.
That fits the larger philosophy behind everything we do:
Restore Health. Rebuild Energy. Optimize Longevity.
How Common Is Neck Pain?
Neck pain is extremely common and can affect adults of virtually any age.
Some episodes are short-lived. Others become recurrent or chronic and begin interfering with quality of life.
What I find especially important is that many people gradually adjust their behavior around the problem.
- They stop turning their head as far.
- They modify workouts.
- They avoid certain sleeping positions.
- They take more breaks at work.
Eventually, something abnormal becomes their new “normal.”
One of the things I ask patients is, “What have you stopped doing, or stopped enjoying, because your neck bothers you?” Sometimes that answer tells me more than a pain scale does.
Why Is Neck Pain So Common?
There usually isn’t one single answer.
Neck pain can be influenced by:
- repetitive stress
- prolonged sitting
- computers and phones
- previous accidents or injuries
- sports
- muscular imbalance
- restricted joint motion
- disc changes
- arthritis
- stress and muscle tension
- lifestyle and recovery
The important point is this:
The location of the pain does not automatically tell us the cause.
Two patients can point to exactly the same spot and have very different underlying problems.
That’s why evaluation matters.
Is Neck Pain Coming From Muscles, Joints or Discs?
Potentially any of them—and sometimes more than one.
Muscles can become strained or chronically tight.
The small joints of the cervical spine can become irritated or move improperly.
The discs between the vertebrae can undergo age-related changes, bulge or herniate.
And the nervous system can become involved when structures around the spine irritate or compress neural tissues.
That is why simply asking:
“Where does it hurt?”
isn’t enough.
We want to understand:
“What isn’t functioning the way it should?”
What Is a Subluxation?
In chiropractic, the term subluxation is commonly used to describe spinal joint dysfunction involving abnormal or restricted movement and altered function.
At Hassig Family Chiropractic, we try not to make this unnecessarily complicated.
When an area of the spine isn’t moving or functioning properly, it may contribute to altered mechanics and neuromusculoskeletal stress.
Our job is to evaluate the patient and determine whether specific chiropractic care is appropriate.
We aim to find areas where your spine and nervous system have stopped communicating properly and the body gets stuck in an unhealthy feedback loop. The brain tries to coordinate adaptation to stresses, but if the body doesn’t communicate the necessary changes it needs, the brain will stay stuck in that unhealthy pattern. The longer you are stuck in that loop, the longer it takes to reboot your nervous system and get you out of pain and back to doing the things you enjoy.
How Does the Conventional Approach Differ?
Conventional medical care can play an important role in evaluating and treating neck pain, particularly when there are serious injuries, neurological problems or other medical conditions.
Depending upon the situation, treatment may include medications, physical therapy, injections, imaging or surgical evaluation.
Chiropractic care approaches certain mechanical neck problems from a different perspective.
Rather than primarily trying to suppress the pain, we are often interested in movement, spinal function and the mechanical contributors to the patient’s symptoms.
The best care is the right care for the right patient at the right time.
Sometimes that is chiropractic.
Sometimes we work alongside other healthcare professionals.
And sometimes the appropriate decision is to refer.
That is part of being a good steward of someone’s health.
$99 New Patient Special Offer
Your Health Discovery Assessment Includes Comprehensive Health History, One-on-One Consultation with Dr. Brad or Dr. Lori Hassig, Comprehensive Chiropractic & Neurological Examination, MyoVision® Surface EMG Scan, Thermal Imaging Assessment, Digital Range of Motion Evaluation, Personalized Review of Findings & Care Recommendations & Digital X-Rays (If Clinically Indicated).
Discover what’s limiting your health—and begin your personalized plan to Restore Your Health, Rebuild Your Energy & Optimize Your Longevity. Take the first step toward your Second Chance Reset™ today.
This offer does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, or other federally funded program beneficiaries.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Finally Be Heard
We believe one of the most healing experiences is simply having someone take the time to truly listen. That’s why we begin by understanding your story, your goals, and the health challenges you’ve been facing, not just your symptoms. Together, we’ll work to uncover what’s limiting your health and develop a personalized plan designed specifically for you.
2. Regain Hope
Many people come to us after trying multiple treatments with little lasting success. Our goal is to help you understand that your body was designed to heal and that there is often hope when the right cause is identified and the right plan is followed. We want every patient to leave our office encouraged, empowered, and confident that better health is possible.
3. Live Life With An Abundance Of Energy
Imagine waking up with more energy, moving with greater freedom, and enjoying the people and activities you love without being held back by your health. Through our Second Chance Reset™, our goal isn’t simply to help you feel better, it’s to help you build the healthiest, most vibrant future possible so you can live life with purpose, vitality, and joy.
How We Treat Neck Pain In Mountain Brook, AL
Comprehensive Consultation and Examination
We begin by listening.
That sounds simple, but it is one of the most important things we do.
We want to know:
- When did this begin?
- Was there an injury?
- Does the pain travel?
- What makes it worse?
- What helps?
- Has it happened before?
- What treatments have you tried?
- How has this affected your work, sleep, exercise, family or quality of life?
Then we perform an examination based upon the patient’s history and presentation.
Depending upon the individual, our evaluation may include orthopedic and neurological examinations, digital range-of-motion testing, objective technologies such as MyoVision surface EMG and thermal imaging, and/or digital X-rays.
These tools do not independently diagnose the source of neck pain. They provide additional information about function that we can consider alongside the history and examination.
Why Is Finding the Root Cause Important?
It matters because treating every patient exactly the same would mean ignoring the individual.
At Hassig Family Chiropractic, we believe specific problems deserve specific solutions.
One person may have had a car accident three days ago, while another has spent 20 years working at a computer. Their pain might sound similar, but I’m not going to assume the underlying problem is identical.
Digital X-Rays
Why Might X-Rays Be Useful With Neck Pain?
Not every neck pain patient requires X-rays.
When the history and examination indicate imaging is appropriate, digital X-rays can help us evaluate the bony structures of the cervical spine.
They may provide information regarding:
- alignment
- degenerative changes
- arthritis
- disc-space narrowing
- old injuries
- structural abnormalities
- other findings that may influence care
An X-ray does not show everything, and it should not replace a thorough examination.
Are X-Rays Dangerous?
X-rays involve ionizing radiation, so exposure should always be justified and minimized.
Modern digital systems allow imaging to be obtained efficiently, and we use X-rays when clinically indicated rather than routinely on every patient.
How Do They Influence Treatment?
The information may help us understand what is structurally happening, identify precautions and determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate. It also helps us determine how long you may have had the problem and the severity of your spinal decay or degeneration.
Specific Activator Chiropractic Care in Mountain Brook, AL
This is where Hassig Family Chiropractic is particularly different.
We primarily use the Activator Method Chiropractic Technique.
Activator uses a handheld instrument to provide a controlled, low-force mechanical impulse to a specific area.
I have spent decades studying and teaching this technique because I value precision.
Our philosophy is:
- Targeted care. Not routine adjustments.
- We aren’t trying to adjust as many places as possible.
- We’re trying to determine:
- What needs to be adjusted?
- and equally important:
- What does not?
For many patients, the low-force nature of Activator is also appealing because it usually doesn’t require the traditional twisting or forceful manual manipulation that some people associate with cervical chiropractic care.
I was blessed to have received my first chiropractic adjustment from a chiropractor who specialized in Activator technique. I had been observing him check and adjust patients all day in preparation for attending chiropractic school, when he asked if I would like to be checked. I agreed, but forgot to mention to him that I had been suffering from low back and neck pain after years of playing sports. He found subluxations in my neck and lower back, and adjusted them with the Activator instrument. To my great amazement, my usual soreness trying to fall asleep that night was gone! Not only did this amaze me, it also started me on a quest to learn, master, and eventually teach Activator technique. Over the last 25 years of practice, I’ve taught over 4,000 other doctors the Activator technique of evaluation and treatment. Although I wasn’t there to see all the adjustments those doctors have delivered to help their patients, I feel like I’ve helped impact the health of communities all over the country by pouring knowledge into them, just as mentors have poured their knowledge into me.
Nervous System Restoration
The spine isn’t merely a stack of bones.
It surrounds and protects the spinal cord, and spinal nerves exit through openings between the vertebrae.
That relationship between spinal mechanics and the nervous system is why Nervous System Restoration is the first pillar of our Second Chance Reset™ philosophy.
Our objective isn’t simply to create movement for the sake of movement.
We evaluate function, provide appropriate chiropractic care and reassess.
Evaluate → Adjust specifically → Reassess.
That helps us avoid turning chiropractic care into a routine that looks identical every visit.
Movement, Posture and Therapeutic Exercise
A patient might spend a relatively short amount of time in our office.
They spend the rest of the week living their life.
That’s why daily movement habits matter.
Phones and computers receive a lot of blame for neck problems, sometimes fairly.
But I don’t believe the answer is simply:
“Sit perfectly straight all day.”
The human body was designed to move.
A phrase I like is:
The best posture may be your next posture.
- Change position.
- Move.
- Build strength.
- Improve ergonomics.
- Take breaks from sustained positions.
And when appropriate, use exercises designed for the actual problem rather than randomly searching online for “neck stretches.”
The top neck pain hacks I give to patients are:
Brace your elbows against your body when you are talking on the phone. This automatically improves your neck posture and reduces strain on your neck and upper back.
Keep your shoulders down and don’t let your shoulders come up toward your ears. This is common in sleeping, driving, and leaning on an armrest. That position can pinch the neck joints and irritate the nerves, which commonly leads to radiation into the arms and/or hands.
Stretch your chest by putting your arms against the door frame and leaning forward. This greatly helps reduce the rounded-shoulder posture we see frequently because of modern habits and technology.
Nutritional and Whole-Person Support
This is another area where Hassig Family Chiropractic differs from a traditional musculoskeletal-only practice.
We recognize that recovery and health are influenced by more than spinal mechanics.
Nutrition, sleep, stress, metabolic health, activity and recovery can all influence how someone feels.
We provide functional-health and nutritional services when appropriate, including our Health Systems Survey and individualized nutritional assessment.
That does not mean every person with neck pain needs supplements.
Rather, it means we are willing to look at the whole person when the clinical picture warrants it.
That aligns with the second Hassig Family Chiropractic pillar:
Cellular Energy & Metabolic Renewal
We use a thorough health systems review, muscle testing, and lab testing when indicated. Although most Americans are overfed, we find most are actually undernourished when it comes to proper nutrients. Our goal is to find any nutritional deficiencies, correct the imbalance, and restore proper health and vitality. The goal isn’t the most supplements; it’s the most precise combination of necessary supplements.
Common Causes of Neck Pain in Mountain Brook, AL
Bulged Cervical Discs
The discs between the cervical vertebrae help absorb and distribute forces.
Each disc has a tougher outer portion and a softer inner component.
With age, injury or repetitive loading, part of the disc may extend beyond its usual boundary.
A disc bulge does not automatically mean someone will have pain. Imaging abnormalities are sometimes found in people without symptoms.
When a cervical disc problem is symptomatic, a person may experience:
- neck pain
- shoulder or upper-back discomfort
- symptoms traveling into the arm
- tingling
- numbness
- weakness
The appropriate treatment depends upon the patient’s symptoms, examination and neurological findings.
Herniated Cervical Discs
Disc bulges and disc herniations are related but aren’t necessarily identical.
With a herniation, disc material may extend farther through the outer layers.
Symptoms depend heavily upon location and whether nearby neural structures are affected.
Some cases may respond well to conservative care.
Others require imaging, medical evaluation or additional treatment.
There is no single responsible answer to “the best treatment for every disc herniation.”
The right treatment depends upon the person.
Degenerative Disc Disease
“Degenerative disc disease” sounds frightening, but it generally describes age-related changes involving the spinal discs.
As discs change, they may lose height or hydration, and surrounding joints may also develop degenerative changes.
We cannot make a 60-year-old spine look 20 again.
But that does not mean function cannot improve.
Our focus becomes:
How well can this patient move and function with the spine they have today?
That perspective fits directly into Hassig Family Chiropractic’s focus on Longevity and Healthy Aging Optimization.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis means narrowing of spaces within or around the spinal canal or nerve openings.
Some people have stenosis without significant symptoms.
Others may experience pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or other neurological complaints depending upon the location and severity.
This is one reason examination—and sometimes advanced imaging or referral—is important.
For those trying to avoid surgery, chiropractic can be a great first step to decrease or eliminate symptoms before they “go under the knife.”
Muscle Strain
Muscle strains can occur from sudden activity, exercise, repetitive movements, awkward positioning or injury.
Many improve with time.
But recurring muscle tightness can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying mechanical problem rather than the entire problem itself.
If the same muscle continually tightens, I want to know why.
“Tech Neck”
“Tech neck” is a popular term describing discomfort associated with prolonged use of phones, tablets and computers.
The biggest issue may not be one particular position.
It is often the amount of time spent in the same position without movement.
Rather than fearing technology, we want patients to develop healthier habits around it.
Raise screens when practical.
Change positions.
Take movement breaks.
Strengthen your body.
And don’t ignore persistent symptoms.
Facet Joint Dysfunction
Facet joints are small joints at the rear of the vertebrae that help guide cervical movement.
When a facet joint becomes irritated or mechanically restricted, patients may experience localized pain, stiffness or difficulty moving in certain directions.
This is one type of mechanical problem that a specific chiropractic examination is designed to evaluate. Activator thrives in this area, where less specific treatments can struggle to get results.
Subluxation / Joint Dysfunction
At Hassig Family Chiropractic, we don’t need to make the concept mysterious.
If a spinal joint isn’t functioning normally, we want to identify it as specifically as possible.
Activator evaluation and chiropractic care are designed to help us determine where an adjustment may be appropriate.
And once again:
More adjusting does not necessarily mean better adjusting.
Precision matters.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis involves age- and load-related changes affecting joints.
It may contribute to:
- stiffness
- reduced mobility
- pain
- changes visible on imaging
We do not “get rid of” arthritis.
That would be an inaccurate promise.
Our goal is to help appropriate patients maintain as much comfortable movement, strength and function as possible.
And that fits the way we think about longevity:
Healthy aging isn’t merely living longer. It’s maintaining the ability to live well.
Whiplash
Whiplash commonly occurs when the neck experiences a rapid acceleration-deceleration movement, such as during a motor-vehicle collision.
It can affect muscles, ligaments, joints and other cervical structures.
Symptoms sometimes appear immediately and sometimes develop later.
After significant trauma, appropriate evaluation is important—particularly if there are neurological symptoms, severe pain or other concerning findings.
Conservative chiropractic care may be appropriate in selected cases after proper evaluation, while other injuries require additional medical assessment.
One thing I’ve learned from seeing accident patients is that the severity of vehicle damage doesn’t always tell me how the patient is going to feel. Force equals mass times acceleration. Although the speed or vehicle damage may not be excessive, the mass of the vehicles can cause serious injuries.
Neck Pain and the Second Chance Reset™
Someone may initially come to Hassig Family Chiropractic because their neck hurts.
But our vision for health is bigger than pain relief.
We organize that vision around four pillars.
Nervous System Restoration
Helping restore appropriate spinal and nervous-system function through precise chiropractic evaluation and care.
Cellular Energy & Metabolic Renewal
Looking at nutrition, sleep, stress, recovery and metabolic health when appropriate.
Longevity & Healthy Aging Optimization
Helping patients maintain mobility, strength, energy and independence so they can continue doing the things they love.
Faith-Based Healing & Stewardship
We believe our bodies are gifts from God.
We are not promised perfect health.
But we believe caring for our bodies wisely is an act of stewardship.
That belief influences the way Dr. Lori and I care for people.
It should produce greater compassion, honesty and responsibility—not exaggerated promises.
We want to serve patients with excellence while respecting both the remarkable ability of the human body to adapt and heal and the importance of referring when something is outside our scope.
Restore Health. Rebuild Energy. Optimize Longevity. Live with Greater Purpose.
Check Out Our Location Near You
68 Church St # B, Mountain Brook, AL 35213
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain
Can a chiropractor help with neck pain?
Chiropractic care can be appropriate for some mechanical causes of neck pain. We first evaluate the patient to determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate for the individual.
When should I see a chiropractor for neck pain?
If pain persists, repeatedly returns, limits movement or interferes with sleep, work, exercise or everyday activities, an evaluation can help determine what may be contributing.
Is it okay to pop my own neck?
Occasionally hearing a joint pop is not necessarily dangerous, but repeatedly forcing your neck to create a pop does not mean you are correcting the underlying problem. Persistent stiffness or discomfort deserves proper evaluation.
Is massage or chiropractic better for neck pain?
They address different structures and may be complementary. Massage generally focuses more heavily on soft tissue, while chiropractic evaluates and treats mechanical joint and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction.
Do medical doctors recommend chiropractic care?
Some physicians refer appropriate patients for conservative musculoskeletal care, but recommendations vary according to the patient’s condition, physician and circumstances.
Does insurance cover chiropractic treatment for neck pain?
Many insurance plans include chiropractic benefits, but coverage varies. Our team can help patients understand the benefits available under their individual plan.
How can I relieve my neck pain?
The best strategy depends upon the cause. Movement, ergonomics, heat or cold, appropriate exercise and conservative care may help certain mechanical problems, while persistent or concerning symptoms deserve evaluation.
How should I sleep with neck pain?
There is no single perfect sleeping position. Generally, choose a position and pillow setup that keeps the neck reasonably comfortable and supported rather than forcing it into an extreme position. Back or side sleeping is acceptable; stomach sleeping causes neck and low-back issues.
Why does my neck hurt only on one side?
One-sided pain can come from muscles, joints, repetitive positioning, injury or other causes. The side of the pain alone doesn’t establish the diagnosis.
How can I tell if my neck is “out of alignment”?
Pain or stiffness alone cannot tell you exactly what is happening structurally or mechanically. An appropriate history and physical examination provide much more useful information than trying to diagnose spinal alignment based only on how the neck feels.
In Closing
If your neck has been hurting for months and you keep telling yourself, “Maybe it will go away,” consider asking a different question.
“Why hasn’t it?”
Dr. Lori and I have spent more than 25 years building Hassig Family Chiropractic around the belief that people deserve to be heard, thoroughly evaluated and treated as individuals.
We don’t want to simply perform the same routine on everyone who walks through the door.
We want to understand the person, identify how we can help, be precise in the care we provide, measure progress, and help patients build health that allows them to remain active and engaged in the lives they have been called to live.
That’s the bigger purpose behind:
Restore Health.
Rebuild Energy.
Optimize Longevity.
$99 New Patient Special Offer
Your Health Discovery Assessment Includes Comprehensive Health History, One-on-One Consultation with Dr. Brad or Dr. Lori Hassig, Comprehensive Chiropractic & Neurological Examination, MyoVision® Surface EMG Scan, Thermal Imaging Assessment, Digital Range of Motion Evaluation, Personalized Review of Findings & Care Recommendations & Digital X-Rays (If Clinically Indicated).
Discover what’s limiting your health—and begin your personalized plan to Restore Your Health, Rebuild Your Energy & Optimize Your Longevity. Take the first step toward your Second Chance Reset™ today.
This offer does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, or other federally funded program beneficiaries.